Sit and step stool

ABSTRACT

A two-step stool, with a base having three-step areas and mounting a top formed with a single step area and three substantially vertical legs spaced one from the other to provide feet-receiving apertures aligned with the step area on the base. A seat is carried by the top for movement between a position housed just beneath the single step and a position covering the single step area to permit the user to sit on the stool without getting dirty from the single step area. Three wheels, which facilitate movement of the stool about the floor, retract into the base when weight is applied to the stool to permit a bumper disposed about the lower edge of the base to rest upon the floor and minimize slippage when the stool is in use.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Arthur Serwer Jerico, NY. [21 Appl. No. 786,691 [22] Filed Dec. 24, 1968 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [73] Assignee Litton Business Systems, Inc.

[54] SIT AND STEP STOOL 20 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 182/15, 182/91, 182/132 [51] Int. Cl A47c 9/02 [50] Field of Search 182/33.5, 33, 15,91, 132

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,870,309 8/1932 Cummiskey.. l82/33.6 2,955,645 10/1960 Cramer 182/15 1 82/ 15 Primary ExaminerReinaldo P. Machado Attorneys-N0rman Friedman, Morris 1. Pollack, Arthur T.

Groeninger, Stephen E. Feldman and Philip Furgang ABSTRACT: A two-step stool, with a base having three-step areas and mounting a top formed with a single step area and three substantially vertical legs spaced one from the other to provide feet-receiving apertures aligned with the step area on the base. A seat is carried by the top for movement between a position housed just beneath the single step and a position covering the single step area to permit the user to sit on the stool without getting dirty from the single step area. Three wheels, which facilitate movement of the stool about the floor, retract into the base when weight is applied to the stool to permit a bumper disposed about the lower edge of the base to rest upon the floor and minimize slippage when the stool is in use.

PATENTED AUG] 1:971

SHEET 1 0F 2 lNVENT OR A R THUR SE1? WER BY WW ATTORNEY PATENTEUAUGIHQ?! 3599750 SHEET 2 OF 2 i II/IIIIIII I o 56 5a 42 'i 20b ATTORNEY SIT AND STEP STOOL BACKGROUND OF INVENTION FIELD OF APPLICATION This invention relates to stools, and more particularly to short rise stools having a place for the user to sit upon.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION PRIOR ART Step stools of the short rise type, having two or three steps, are usually constructed with the step areas adapted only to receive the feet of the user. It is obvious that the user is not restricted by the stool construction from sitting upon the uppermost step area and this is in fact what is happening in many instances. The user has found the short rise step stool a handy seat for use when working in low places such as when filing papers in the bottom drawers of filing cabinets, arranging books on the lower shelves of a bookcase, cleaning out low cabinets in the home, etc.

The constant depositing of dirt from the users feet to the uppermost seat area has however been a great deterrent to the use of short rise step stools as sitting stools. When the user requires a sitting stool they must either clean the uppermost step area or get their clothing dirty. As an alternative they can acquire two stools but it is difficult to restrict the use of one for standing and the other for sitting.

Existing short rise step stools are usually bulky and heavy making movement thereof difficult, if not impossible. In addition, the requirement for a sturdy step stool capable of supporting the users weight dictates that most presently available step stools be provided by the manufacturers fully assembled thus making storage and shipment a space and expense problem.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved step stool.

It is another object to provide an improved stool for both sitting and standing.

It is still another object to provide an improved stool with an area for seating which can be stored in a convenient place and in an easy manner within the stool, when not used as a set, to prevent dirt from being deposited thereon.

It is yet'another object to provide an improved stool which is sturdy in construction to support the users weight, but which is light in weight to facilitate movement and shipment.

It is yet a further object to provide an improved stool which can be supplied to the user in a partially disassembled condition and at a cost savings because the disassembled condition facilitates storage and packing considerations of the manufacturers and supplier; while at the same time providing a stool which is simple to assemble, can be assembled without tools and which when assembled is strong enough to more than adequately support the weight of any user.

In carrying out the invention, according to a preferred embodiment, the stool is fonned from plastic with an open bottom base section and a top section sized to fit within the opening within the base section. The top section mounts a plurality of headed lugs adapted to be inserted into apertures appropriately formed in the base section to interconnect the two, so that once connected the heads prevent disconnection. The top section further mounts a seat for storage within the top section and for removal from storage and movement to a position covering the step area of the top section.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention in its details of construction and arrangement of parts, will be seen from the above, from the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered in conjunction with the drawings, and from the appended claims.

In the FIGURES FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a step stool embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the step stool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing the lugs attaching the top section to the bottom section of the step stool;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic showing of the top and base sections of the step stool nested for shipment.

For convenience the invention will be described as applied to a two-step stool including a base section and a top section both formed from high impact styrene and as separate entities adapted to be nested one within the other to facilitate shipment, and to be locked together by the user to constitute a unitary device; with the base section including three-step areas, a rubber bumper around its bottom edge and three wheels which retract under weight to permit the bumper to rest upon the floor; and with the top section including a single step area, a pivotally disposed seat adapted to bestored under the step area and three depending legs adapted when assembled to the base section, to span the three-step area thereon: it being understood nevertheless that without departing from the invention that the stool may be formed of any suitable lightweight material, that it may include more or less then two steps, that the base section and top section need not nest within each other and may be provided in an assembled condition, that the base section may have more or less then threestep areas and need not include either a bumper or wheels, and that the top section may be formed with any number of legs or, for that manner, in any suitable way so as to facilitate its appropriate attachment to the base section, and that the seat may be stored under and removed from beneath the step area by means other than pivoting.

With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown generally at 10 a stool having a base section 12 and a top section 14 each formed of a high impact styrene.

Three step areas 20a (FIG. 1 and 3), 20b (FIGS. 2 and 3) and 20c (FIG. 1) are formed in upper surface 22 of base section 12 to receive rubber treads 24a, 24b, 240, (FIG. 2) respectively. A rubber bumper 30 (FIG. 1 and 3) is disposed about the periphery of substantially hexagonal shaped sides 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f of base section 12; with a first lip 32 (FIG. 3) formed on bumper 30 for insertion in a notch 34 formed in the underside of base section 12 and with a second lip 36 formed in bumper 30 to grip a shoulder 38 around base section 12.

Three wheel support walls 42a (FIG. 3) 42b, and 42c (FIG. 1), extending into a hollow 44 formed within base section 12, are each formed with a socket 46 adapted to mount a wheel assembly 48. Wheel assemblies 48 are conventionally available and each include a wheel 50 carried by a pintle 52 disposed in a housing 54 secured by a spring 56 and rod 58 within socket 46 so that wheel assemblies 48 readily retract within hollow 44 when weight is applied to stool 10. When wheel assemblies 48 retract within hollow 44 bumper 30 rests upon the floor to prevent slippage of stool 10.

A plurality of apertures 60 (FIG. 5) are formed in the upper surface of base section 12 to receive tongues 62 formed on depending leg walls 64a (FIG. 3), 64b (FIGS. 2 and 3) and 640 (FIG. 2) of top section 14. Once tongues 62 are inserted in apertures 60 their shape prevents removal thereof.

A tread 70 (FIG. 2) is disposed over an upper surface 72 of top section 14. A seat is disposed on a rod 82 for pivotal movement between a housed position within top section 14 beneath surface 72 thereof (l-FIG. 1) and an in-use position (lV FIG. 1) with it nested over tread 70. A tab 84 (FIG. 1) is formed on seat 80 to facilitate grasping same when in its housed position. A cylindrical cup 86 (FIG. 3), provided on seat 80 to receive rod 82, is formed with a shoulder 88 adapted to rest on a seat 90 formed proximate walls 92 of a well 94 formed in top section 14 to receive rod 82. A lip 95, surrounding the periphery of seat 80, is formed to snugly fit about thread 70 to prevent inadvertent dislocation of seat 80 when in its in-use position.

An opening 96 (FIGS. 1 and 6) is formed in a sidewall 93a of top section 14 to permit seat 80 to move into its housed positioned. Sidewall 98a and sidewalls 98b, 98c alternate with leg walls 64a, 64b and 640 to provide top section 14 with a substantially triangular configuration. A detent 102 (FIG. 1) in the form of a bumplike protuberance, is carried on the underside of seat 80 for coaction with the inner edge of a rib 104 fon'ned in sidewall 98a to facilitate the retention of seat 80 in its housed position as will be hereinafter explained.

If desired an appropriately constructed spring 110 (FIG. 3) may be wrapped around and connected to the lower section of rod 82 as at 112. The other free end 114 of spring 110 may then be connected to top section 14 so that rod 82 and seat 80 are always biased to their housed (l-FIG. 1) positions.

Stool 10 may advantageously be shipped in a knocked-down condition, as shown schematically in FIG. 7, with top section 14 nested within base section 12. To assemble stool 10 one need only insert tongues 62 (FIGS. 4 and 5) in apertures 60 (FIG. 5) until they properly seat. Top section 14 is thereafter securely connected to base section 12.

In use wheels 48 permit stool to be rolled wherever desired. it should however be understood that stool 10 is light enough to permit relatively easy and labor free carrying thereof. The user thereafter need only step upon any one of treads 24a, 24b, 240, to cause wheels 48 to retract and bumper 30 to engage the floor for secure placement of stool 10. If required the user may then step upon treads 70.

If the user desires a sitting stool and does not want to sit upon tread 70 they need only grasp tab 84 and rotate seat 80 clockwise (FIG. 2) from its housed position (I-FIG. 1) to a lowered position extending out from top section 14 (II-FIG. 1) then to a raised position extending out from top section 14 (III FIG. 1) and then to an in use position (IV-FIG. 1) nested over thread 70. Subsequent sitting upon seat 80 will cause wheels 48 to retract and bumper 30 to grip the floor there below. Seat 80 may thereafter be returned by raising and rotating same to its Ill position, lowering same to its ll position and rotating same to its I position. When seat 80 is in its I position and weight is placed upon tread 70 (as when someone is standing thereon) detent I02 lodges behind rib 104 and prevents seat 80 from rocking out of its I position.

If used, spring 110 will urge seat 80 into its I position so that if seat 80 is inadvertently left in its II position spring 110 will return same to its I position; or so that if seat 80 is left in any position between II and III seat 80 will be returned first to its ll position and then to its l position. Spring 110 will also assist seat 80 into its IV position.

From the above description it will thus be seen that a novel and improved stool has been provided for both sitting and stepping, which stool; may be easily shipped in a knockdown condition for subsequent assembly without tools or separate fasteners; is light in weight but sturdy in construction; and is provided with a seat adapted to be stored within the confines of the stool and removed therefrom for placement over the top step on the stool to prevent dirt from being transferred therefrom to the user.

It is understood that although I have shown the preferred form of my invention that various modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit as comprehended by the following claims:

I CLAIM:

l. A combination comprising:

a. support means b. cover means disposed for movement between a first position disposed substantially entirely within said support means and a second position on top of said support means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support means includes:

a. a lower portion with at least one step area thereon; and

b. an upper portion with at least one step area thereon.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said cover is disposed for rotating movement about an axis of rotation per pendicular to the top of said support means.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said cover is also disposed for longitudinal movement with respect to the top of said support means.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said cover means is disposed on a rod carried by said support means for both rotating movement about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the top of said support means and longitudinal shifting movement parallel to said axis of rotation to permit said cover means to move out of its first position by rotating same until it is clear of said support means, and into said second position by longitudinally shifting same and then rotating same in a direction to place same over the top of said support means.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said cover means includes means to prevent inadvertent dislocation thereof once disposed in said second position.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said means to prevent inadvertent dislocation of said cover means takes the form of a lip disposed about the periphery of said cover means and so as to snugly surround at least a portion of the top of said support means.

8. The combination of claim 2 wherein:

a. said lower portion is formed as a substantially hexagonal hollow frustum of a cone; and

b. said upper portion is formed as a substantially hollow triangular frustum of a cone.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein a leg extends downwardly from each corner of said upper portion and is connected through an upper surface of said lower portion substantially midway between alternate ones of the hexagonal sides thereof.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein:

a. said legs are spaced one from the other to form openings into said hollow of said upper portion; and

b. stepping areas are provided on said lower portion in alignment with said openings.

11. A step stool comprising a. a base section formed with an upper surface;

b. a top section formed with an upper surface;

c. a cover section carried by said top section for disposition in either an in-use position covering at least a portion of said upper surface of said top section and a stored position wherein it is substantially within said top section spaced from said upper surface of said base section.

12. The step stool of claim 11 wherein:

said cover section is carried by a rod disposed on said top section for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said upper surface of said top section.

13. The step stool of claim 12 wherein said rod is also disposed for longitudinal movement in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation.

14. The step stool of claim 13 wherein spring means are provided to bias said cover section towards said stored position.

15. The step stool of claim 13 wherein: said cover section is detented in both said stored and said in-use positions thereof.

16. The step stool of claim 11 wherein:

a. said base section is formed as a hollow substantially hexagonal frustum of a cone;

b. said top section is formed as a hollow substantially triangular frustum of a cone with a leg extending down from each corner thereof for interconnection to said base section.

17. The step stool ofclaim 16 wherein:

a each leg terminates in at least one tongue;

b. apertures are formed in said upper surface of said base section to receive said tongues; and

c. said tongues are formed for ready insertion in said apertures but so that they can not be readily removed therefrom;

18 The step stool of claim 16 wherein:

a. said legs are spaced to provide therebetween openings to receive at least the front portion of the feet or user; and

b. said base section is provided with stepping areas aligned with said openings.

19. A sit and step stool comprising:

a. a hollow base section formed in the configuration of a substantially hollow hexagonal frustum of a cone, open at the bottom and with an upper surface provided with three stepping areas b. a hollow top section formed in the configuration of a substantially hollow triangular frustum of a cone open at the bottom with an upper stepping surface and with a leg extending down from each comer thereof;

c. each of said legs terminating in a pair of spaced tongues formed for easy insertion but so as to prevent withdrawal from corresponding pairs of openings in the said upper surface of said base section;

d. each pair of said openings in said upper surface of said base section being disposed between said stepping areas so that when said top section and said base section are assembled said legs form openings aligned with said stepping areas;

e. a rod vertically disposed in said top section for rotative movement about an axis of rotation perpendicular to said upper surface of said top section and for longitudinal movement along said axis of rotation;

f. a seat carried by said rod at the upper end thereof;

g. said seat being formed substantially as hollow frustum of a triangle open at the bottom and sized to snugly fit over said upper surface of said top section;

h. said top section further including an opening in the side thereof to receive most of said seat and so that said seat may be stored within the hollow of said top section beneath said top surface thereof;

i. said seat further including detent means to prevent inadvertent movement of said seat from the stored position thereof as well as a tab extending down therefrom to facilitate grasping of said seat and rotation thereof out of said stored position;

j. said seat moving with said rod in a vertical direction, after rotation thereof out of said stored position, to a position above said upper surface of said top section and then rotating with said rod to a position above said upper surface of said top section for subsequent movement with said rod down to an in-use position over said upper surface of said top section;

k. three retractably mounted wheels carried by said base section for retraction upon application of weight thereto; and

1. rubber bumper disposed about the open periphery of said base section for engagement with a floor as said wheels retract.

20 The sit and step stool of claim 19 wherein spring means coact with said rod to said seat carried thereby into said stored position. 

1. A combination comprising: a. support means b. cover means disposed for movement between a first position disposed substantially entirely within said support means and a second position on top of said support means.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support means includes: a. a lower portion with at least one step area thereon; and b. an upper portion with at least one step area thereon.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said cover is disposed for rotating movement about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the top of said support means.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said cover is also disposed for longitudinal movement with respect to the top of said support means.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said cover means is disposed on a rod carried by said support means for both rotating movement about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the top of said support means and longitudinal shifting movement parallel to said axis of rotation to permit said cover means to move out of its first position by rotating same until it is clear of said support means, and into said second position by longitudinally shifting same and then rotating same in a direction to place same over the top of said support means.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said cover means includes means to prevent inadvertent dislocation thereof once disposed in said second position.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said means to prevent inadvertent dislocation of said cover means takes the form of a lip disposed about the periphery of said cover means and so as to snugly surround at least a portion of the top of said support means.
 8. The combination of claim 2 wherein: a. said lower portion is formed as a substantially hexagonal hollow frustum of a cone; and b. said upper portion is formed as a substantially hollow triangular frustum of a cone.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein a leg extends downwardly from each corner of said upper portion and is connected through an upper surface of said lower portion substantially midway between alternate ones of the hexagonal sides thereof.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein: a. said legs are spaced one from the other to form openings into said hollow of said upper portion; and b. stepping areas are provided on said lower portion in alignment with said openings.
 11. A step stool comprising a. a base section formed with an upper surface; b. a top section formed with an upper surface; c. a cover section carried by said top section for disposition in either an in-use position covering at least a portion of said upper surface of said top section and a stored position wherein it is substantially within said top section spaced from said upper surface of said base section.
 12. The step stool of claim 11 wherein: said cover section is carried by a rod disposed on said top section for roTation about an axis perpendicular to said upper surface of said top section.
 13. The step stool of claim 12 wherein said rod is also disposed for longitudinal movement in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation.
 14. The step stool of claim 13 wherein spring means are provided to bias said cover section towards said stored position.
 15. The step stool of claim 13 wherein: said cover section is detented in both said stored and said in-use positions thereof.
 16. The step stool of claim 11 wherein: a. said base section is formed as a hollow substantially hexagonal frustum of a cone; b. said top section is formed as a hollow substantially triangular frustum of a cone with a leg extending down from each corner thereof for interconnection to said base section.
 17. The step stool of claim 16 wherein: a each leg terminates in at least one tongue; b. apertures are formed in said upper surface of said base section to receive said tongues; and c. said tongues are formed for ready insertion in said apertures but so that they can not be readily removed therefrom; 18 The step stool of claim 16 wherein: a. said legs are spaced to provide therebetween openings to receive at least the front portion of the feet or user; and b. said base section is provided with stepping areas aligned with said openings.
 19. A sit and step stool comprising: a. a hollow base section formed in the configuration of a substantially hollow hexagonal frustum of a cone, open at the bottom and with an upper surface provided with three stepping areas b. a hollow top section formed in the configuration of a substantially hollow triangular frustum of a cone open at the bottom with an upper stepping surface and with a leg extending down from each corner thereof; c. each of said legs terminating in a pair of spaced tongues formed for easy insertion but so as to prevent withdrawal from corresponding pairs of openings in the said upper surface of said base section; d. each pair of said openings in said upper surface of said base section being disposed between said stepping areas so that when said top section and said base section are assembled said legs form openings aligned with said stepping areas; e. a rod vertically disposed in said top section for rotative movement about an axis of rotation perpendicular to said upper surface of said top section and for longitudinal movement along said axis of rotation; f. a seat carried by said rod at the upper end thereof; g. said seat being formed substantially as hollow frustum of a triangle open at the bottom and sized to snugly fit over said upper surface of said top section; h. said top section further including an opening in the side thereof to receive most of said seat and so that said seat may be stored within the hollow of said top section beneath said top surface thereof; i. said seat further including detent means to prevent inadvertent movement of said seat from the stored position thereof as well as a tab extending down therefrom to facilitate grasping of said seat and rotation thereof out of said stored position; j. said seat moving with said rod in a vertical direction, after rotation thereof out of said stored position, to a position above said upper surface of said top section and then rotating with said rod to a position above said upper surface of said top section for subsequent movement with said rod down to an in-use position over said upper surface of said top section; k. three retractably mounted wheels carried by said base section for retraction upon application of weight thereto; and l. rubber bumper disposed about the open periphery of said base section for engagement with a floor as said wheels retract. 20 The sit and step stool of claim 19 wherein spring means coact with said rod to said seat carried thereby into said stored position. 